Mark Viduka's final touch of this match led to him scoring his 22nd goal of
the season - and it could well prove to be his last touch in a Leeds shirt.
Peter Reid will have learned nothing new from his first full game in charge as
Leeds ended a season they will quickly want to forget with back-to-back league
victories for the first time since the turn of the year.
After carrying out the brief asked of him when appointed as successor to the
sacked Terry Venables seven weeks ago by keeping Leeds in the Premiership, Reid
is now likely to be judged by Leeds fans on how he performs in what is certain
to be a busy summer.
Reid has already stated there will comings and goings as he wheels and deals
in the transfer market, and although he is under no pressure to sell any of the
crown jewels, that does not mean more star names will move on.
However, Viduka finished the season with a flourish by rounding Stefan Postma
in injury-time and slotting home his 13th goal from his last nine appearances,
and now he could be courted by a host of clubs eager to sign such a prolific
striker.
A family bereavement led to Harry Kewell's absence from the Leeds starting
line-up, which could mean his goalscoring appearance in last Sunday's vital 3-2
win at Arsenal proves his last for Leeds.
Kewell has so far stalled on signing a new contract, initially as he waited to
see which league Leeds would be playing in next season, and then who would be
manager.
Both issues have been resolved in the last week, and although chairman
Professor John McKenzie is hopeful Kewell will stay at Elland Road, the
Australia international could decide otherwise.
Manchester United and Arsenal are favourites to clinch his signature, with
Kewell understood to prefer Highbury than Old Trafford, while the Premiership's
big two are also set to scrap it out for Paul Robinson.
Real Madrid are also appear interested in the £8million-rated goalkeeper who
it would appear has also pulled on a Leeds jersey for the final time.
Robinson certainly distinguished himself if he is to bow out and showed just
why he is wanted by Europe's biggest clubs as Villa countered superbly following
Ian Harte's eighth-minute opener.
After Viduka was clearly tripped by Jlloyd Samuel inside the D, Harte quickly
stepped up to curl a left-foot free-kick beyond Postma, one of five changes to
the Villa side following last Sunderland's lifeline win at home to Sunderland.
It was on-loan Joey Gudjonsson who set the Villa ball rolling for out of
nothing he curled in a 22-yarder which Robinson brilliantly tipped away in the
16th minute, with the Icelander denied again a minute later.
From 20 yards, Gudjonsson whipped in a deceptively low free-kick which
Robinson just managed to keep out as the ball reared up in front of him, before
Lucas Radebe cleared the danger.
That was quickly followed by a backtracking Robinson forced to tip over a
mis-hit Samuel right-wing cross which threatened to dip underneath his
crossbar.
A pressing Villa should then have grabbed the equaliser in the 22nd-minute as
Gareth Barry, returning from a one-match suspension, released Thomas
Hitzlsperger just inside the left-hand edge of the area.
A low first-time cross into the heart of the six-yard box was pushed into the
path of an in-form Marcus Allback by a diving, full-stretch Robinson.
The Sweden international, with four goals in his last four matches, looked set
to side-foot home from 14 yards, only for goalscorer Harte to clear off the
line.
But Villa, and Gudjonsson especially, were not to be denied as Robinson was
finally beaten five minutes before the break by a dipping, swerving right-foot
cracker from 30 yards.
As for the majority of the second half, it might as well have not taken place
for it bore all the hallmarks of a typically meaningless end-of-season affair
with nothing at stake.
Other than Hitzlsperger's dipping 25-yard shot clipping the top of the
crossbar, there was nothing to show for the first 35 minutes until Nick Barmby
struck 10 minutes from time.
Harte's inswinging near-post corner was met by a flick header from skipper
Dominic Matteo, who will undergo much-needed knee surgery on Wednesday to cure a
long-standing problem.
It was left to Barmby, who scored Leeds' first goal of the season in an
opening day 3-0 win over Manchester City, to send United into the summer on a
high note by scoring his fifth goal of the season in sliding the ball home at
the far post.
Viduka then rightfully had the final say to leave Villa without an away win
since January 28, and ending the Midlands club's seven-match unbeaten league and
cup run at Elland Road.
Teams:
Leeds: Robinson, Mills (Barmby 70), Radebe, Duberry, Harte,
Kelly, Bakke (McPhail 45), Matteo (Kilgallon 86), Wilcox,
Viduka, Simon Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Martyn, Burns.
Goals: Harte 8, Barmby 81, Viduka 90.
Aston Villa: Postma, Samuel (Taylor 84), Mellberg,
Johnsen (Dublin 89), Barry, Moore (Cooke 74), Hitzlsperger,
Gudjonsson, Whittingham, Vassell, Allback.
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Ridgewell.
Booked: Mellberg.
Goals: Gudjonsson 40.
Att: 40,205
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).
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